Titanium ester complexes



Patented Sept. 2, 1958 TITANIUM ESTER COMPLEXES Harry H. Beacham, Plainfield, N. J., and Kenneth M. Merz, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada, assignors to National Lead Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application April 23, 1957 Serial No. 654,436

11 Claims. (Cl. 260-4295) This invention relates to complex esters of titanium. More specifically, this invention relates to compositions of matter comprising organotitanium esters and 1,2-diamines. This application is a continuation-in-part of our co-pending application S. N. 394,489, filed November 25, 1953, now abandoned.

Organic esters of titanium such as the alkyl titanates, aryl titanates and the like, have recently evoked considerable interest in various chemical arts, because of their ready reactivity with a large variety of chemical substances to produce stable titanium-containing compositions or to improve the properties of various materials that may be treated with them. They are useful, for example, as paint vehicles, textile treating agents, modifiers for oleoresinous varnishes and in various similar ways.

Difiiculty has occasionally been experienced, however, in employing these organotitanium esters because their reactivity is too great for some applications. When used in oleoresinous varnishes, for example, the addition of titanates improves the hardness and quality of the film produced, but in the case of varnishes containing certain highly-reactive resins, the reaction between the resin and the titanate ester tends to take place prematurely causing gelation and poor storage stability. In various other applications as well, it is desirable to modify or mitigate the reactivity of the organotitanium esters for some applications, as will be readily understood by those skilled in this art.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to produce improved titanium ester compositions. A further object is to produce titanium ester compositions of decreased reactivity. A still further object is to provide such compositions which are characterized by decreased reactivity, but otherwise preserve the characteristic-chemical properties of the unmodified organotitanium esters. Additional objects and advantages will be apparent from the following more complete description and claims.

In its broader aspects the present invention contemplates a composition of matter comprising the reaction product of a monomeric organotitanium ester and a 1,2- diamine. This invention also contemplates the method of modifying the reactivity of organotitanium esters which comprises adding thereto a 1,2-diamine. In a particularly desirable embodiment this invention contemplates a composition comprising a monomeric organotitanium ester and a 1,2-diamine having the formula:

wherein R and R may be hydrogen or alkyl radicals containing up to 2 carbon atoms, and R" may be hydrogen, alkyl radicals containing up to 2 carbon atoms, or amineor hydroxyl-substituted alkyl radicals containing up to 6 carbon atoms. Examples of such 1,2-diamines are ethylene diamine, propylene diamine and S-aminoethylethanolamine. The structure of these complexes contains a 5-membered ring formed by coordination of 2 amino groups with a titanium atom, resulting in a ring structure such as for example,

R0 OR 3 organotitanium esters to which the present invention applies may be, for example, monomeric alkyl orthotitanates, preferably those containing up to about 8 carbon atoms per alkyl group, such as isopropyl, n-butyl, secondary butyl, Z-ethylbutyl, isobutyl, and 2-ethylhexyl titanates; monomeric cycloalkyl orthotitanates containing up to about 6 carbon atoms per cycloalkyl group, such as cyclohexyl and cyclopentyl titanates; monomeric aryl orthotitanates containing up to about 7 carbon atoms per aryl group, such as phenyl and tolyl titanates.

The method of practicing the invention is simple and consists ordinarily in mixing the monomeric organotitanium ester with the 1,2-diarnine. The complexing action may take place at room temperature although some heat is evolved. No special precautions are required other than the ordinary ones required for the preservation of the starting materials. The reactants should be anhydrous since the uncomplexed organotitanium esters are in general quite susceptible to hydrolysis by water, and most of the complexed esters, while less readily decomposed, are also unstable in the presence of excessive quantities of water. The condensed titanium esters formed by this reaction with water have been found to be less compatible with most vehicle systems and less effective in obtaining improved hardness and quality of resultant films than the monomeric 1,2-diamine titanium esters.

The ratio of organotitanium ester to the 1,2-diamine may be varied widely and will depend to some extent upon the nature of the particular ester and diamine employed. However it is preferred in general to have from 2 to 8 amino groups of the diamine for each atom of titanium in the organotitanium ester. Smaller amounts of the diamine may be employed with diminished stabilizing effect since not all of the titanium ester will be reacted to form the complex, while larger quantities do not in most cases provide suflicient additional stabilization to justify their use.

As noted above, the stabilizing eifect of the diamine on the organotitanium esters is believed to depend upon the formation of a 5-membered ring structure in which 2 of the amino groups are coordinately bonded to the titanium, the titanium atom thus increasing its coordination number from 4 to 6. This increase in the coordination number of the titanium atom results in reduced activity of the titanium and hence stabilizes the complex. This complex ring is apparently even more stable in the presence of the excess diamine. This type of structure therefore is useful in preventing or modifying the reaction between organotitanium esters and water, reactive resins, polyhydroxy organic compounds, etc. The beneficial efiect of the 5-membered ring structure in the composit-ions of the instant invention is shown by the fact that simple monoamines such as n-butylamine, diethy1 amine and the like form only unstable compositions which are no better than the simple monomeric esters themselves.

The following examples are presented to illustrate the preparation and use of the novel compositions of this invention.

Example 1 A resin solution was prepared from equal parts of Epon 1007, which is a commercial epoxy resin of considerable chemical reactivity, diacetone alcohol, and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether. (The epoxy resins are condensation products of fbisphenols and epichlorohydrin, marketed under the fEpon trademark by the Shell Chemical (20,, and Eppn 11007 is a resin ,or thistype having an epoxiiie equivalentof 1600 1 900).

A curing agent for this resin solution was prepared by mixing 340 parts of tetrabutyltitanate with 60 parts of ethylene diamine and dissolving the resulting solid complex in 2400 parts of isobutanol. Fifty parts of the resin solution and 12 parts of the curing agent solution were mixed while heating slightly to dissolve the com- .plex. Moderate .agitationwas supplied during the mixing Iperiod to :prevent premature gelation .caused "by local :excesses .of ;curing agent. The resulting solution was drawn "down one. steel panel-at about 3 mil film thickness and allowedto 'dry .several days at room temperature. Theresulting filmwas clear, transparent and uniform. It hadaSward rocker hardness of about 47 and 'wassufficiently flexible towithstand 30% distention on a Bell Telephone Laboratory conical mandrel.

Another portion-of the same Epon resin solution was subjected to the same treatment, but using a curing agent preparedas above but omitting the ethylene diamine. The resingelled almost immediately to a rubbery semisolid.

Similar results were obtained when tetra-Z-ethylbutyl 'titanate was substituted for the tetrabutyl titanate used Example 111 -A curing agent was prepared by dissolving 104 parts of fi-aminoethylethanolamine in 340 parts of tetrabutyl titanate. Considerable heat was produced. The liquid reaction-product was a reddish brown color. 6 parts of this curing agent were added to 50 parts of the Epon 1007 solution described inExample I, and the resulting composition was applied to a steel panel and baked -for:1 hour at 100 C. The film produced was substantially identical with those previously described.

Example IV 90 parts of ethylene diamine were added to 396 parts of .tetra-n-amyl titanate to produce a curing agent composition. Heat was produced, and the reaction product was a soft, white solid, soluble in diacetone alcohol, Cello- ,solve (ethylene glycol monoethyl ether), benzyl alcohol,

chloroform and Z-methylpropanol. The solid complex was incorporated into Glyptal 2454 resin in the proportionof 5 parts of the complexto 200 parts of resin. Glyptal 2454is a commercial alkyd resin made from linseed fatty acids, having an acid number of 34 and a non-volatile content of 50%, supplied by the General Electric Company.

amount of uncompleted'amyl titanate into this alkyl resulted' in immediate gelation.

Tetracyclohexyl titanate' was used with equal success in place of tetra-n-amyl titanate.

:Examp'le V A complexg-titanateWasj preparediby' reacting 206 parts (2 mols) of diethylene triamine with 420parts (1 mol) of tetraphenyl titanate. The reaction product was a redorange liquid.

This was incorporated into a standard phenolic varnish prepared according to the following formulation:

. Parts by weight Linseed oil 250 Xylol 350 Lead drier 2.5 Cobalt drier 0.5 Phenyl titanate -dieth'ylene triamine complex 35 For comparison, a sample of untit-anated Glyptalwas 7 taken from the same can, and 0.1% lead and 0.02% *cobalt driers were added to both the titanated and the untitanated Glyptal. Both the untitanated and the titanated Glyptal were then applied to steel panels with a 0.006 in. doctor blade and baked for 1 hour at 100 C. Thefilm'of-untitanated Glyptal was wrinkled and gas- .checked, while the titanated Glyptal was smooth, clear and flexible. Attempts to introduce an equivalent I The iresulting .varn'ish was applied with. a, 6 mil film apphcator'of a cold-roller steelpaneLandfthen dfled for 45 m1nutes at C. The driediilm v was smooth,

transparent, continuous and impervious and possessed uniform texture and high gloss. The Sward rockerhardness of'the film was 35, and itwithstood 30% distention on aBellTelephone Laboratory conical mandrel without breaking.

'For comparison, a similar varnish was. prepared, iomitting the phenyl-titanate-diethylene :triamine complex, ap-

plied to a ste'el panel and driedin; the manner just described. 'The dried'film was badly wrinkled and gaschecked.

Foradditional comparison, two more varnishes were preparedaccording to.,the-above formulation, butomitting the diethylene,triamine-phenyl,titanate complex and .substituting tl 1erefor in; one case 11 parts of diethylene triarnine and in. the: other casei24 parts of phenyltitanate, these quantitiesbeing substantiallyidentioal with the quantities of each substance previously introduced in the form of the complex. The film containing thediethylene triamine \alone failed-to dry. to a hard finishwhile that containing the-phenyltitanate alone was veryhard but less flexible than .the one containing the complex. ,Similar results were obtained using tetratolyl titanate inplace of tetraphenyltitanate.

Exam pIe'VI Acomplextitanate was prepared by. reacting 103 parts (lrmol) of diethylene .triamine with-340parts (1 mol) of tetrabutyl titanate. The product was a yellow-liquid. This complex was incorporated into an ethyl cellulose coating composition according to the following formulation:

'Parts by weight i Medium viscosity ethyl cellulose 15 "Xylol 20 Butanol u 65 Diethylene triamine-butyl titanate complex 15 .The ethyl cellulose was first dissolved in thexylolbutanol solvent, then the diethylene triaminebutyl titanate complex was: added. The resulting clear, homogeneous blend was brushed onto steel panels and allowed to airdry 30 minutes. it was then heated in an oven at 100 C. for 15 minutes. The final film has a Sward rocker hardness of 56 and withstood 20 percent distensionon the BellTelephone conical mandrel. It was clear, almost 'colorless'and was unaffected by water o1' dilute alkali and onlyslightly soitcnecl by organic solvents.

While this invention has beendescribed'and"illustrated by the examples shown, it is not intended to be strictly limited thereto, and other. variations and modifications may'be employed within'the'scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A coordinately bonded monomeric complex organotitanium composition comprising a monomeric titanium ester selected from the group consisting of alkyl orthotitanates containing up to 8 carbon atoms per alkyl group, cycloalkyl titanates containing up to 6 carbon atoms per cycloalkyl group, aryl titanates containing up to about 7 carbon atoms per aryl group and a 1,2-diamine having the formula HzN- NHR" Lid.

where R and R are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radicals containing up to 2 carbon atoms, R" is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl radicals containing up to 2 carbon atoms, and amine substituted and hydroxyl substituted alkyl radicals containing up to 6 carbon atoms.

2. Composition according to claim 1 wherein said diamine is ethylene diamine.

3. Composition according to claim 1 wherein said diamine is propylene diamine.

4. Composition according to claim 1 wherein said diamine is fl-aminoethylethanolamine.

5. Composition according to claim 1 wherein said titanium ester is an alkyl titanate containing up to about 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.

6. Composition according to claim 1 wherein said titanium ester is a phenyl titanate.

7. Composition according to claim 1 wherein said diamine is present in amount to provide from about 2 to about 8 amine groups for each atom of titanium in the organotitanium ester.

8. Composition according to claim 1 wherein said titanium ester is tetrabutyl titanate and said diamine is ethylene diamine.

9. Composition according to claim 1 where said titanium ester is tetraethoxyethyl titanate and said diamine is propylene diamine.

10. Composition according to claim 1 where said titanium ester is tetra-n-amyl titanate and said diamine is ethylene diamine.

11. Composition according to claim 1 where said titanium ester is tetraphenyl titanate and said diamine is diethylene triamine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,278,965 Peski et al. Apr. 7, 1942 2,620,318 Boyd et al. Dec. 2, 1952 2,643,984 Boyd Jan. 30, 1953 2,686,798 Gmitter Aug. 17, 1954 2,689,858 Boyd Sept. 21, 1954 

1. A COORDINATELY BONDED MONOMERIC COMPLEX ORGANOTITANIUM COMPOSITION COMPRISING A MONOMERIC TITANIUM ESTER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKYL ORTHOTITANATES CONTAINING UP TO 8 CARBON ATOMS PER ALKYL GROUP, CYCLOALKYL TITANATES CONTAINING UP TO 6 CARBON ATOMS PER CYCLOALKYL GROUP, ARYL TITANATES CONTAING UP TO ABOUT 7 CARBON ATOMS PER ARYL GROUP AND A 1,2-DIAMINE HAVING THE FORMULA 